Does anyone have any information on a glassmaker called Bayel Cristal of France? Is this company still in operation? When did they make paperweights? Are they still making paperweights? The web offers no real information except that Bayel is a city of glass in France and at one point the company was making many vases and small glass culptures, wine goblets and drinking glasses, and Vaseline glass.

My newest purchase is a Bayel sulphide. It has a top facet and five side facets. The white-colored sulphide is of a flower with two leaves that rests over an amber flash base. The underside is star cut. Printed on the underside in block letters is FOUR SEASONS SUMMER and FRANCE. Then in script is Bayel. Then the numbers 1600/2000, which certainly means this is weight #1600 of a run of two thousand.

Thank you. Yes, I noted and understood that Bayel was a town or some such geographic designation. Now, I'd love to know why Baccarat was making paperweights and signing them Bayel. In celebration? Honoring someone? A special event? For an importer/exporter? Ah, the mysteries of paperweights.

Most assuredly, the weight does have all of the hallmarks of a very good, high-end Baccarat sulphide. Heavy, very clear crystal. Beautiful faceting and star cut base. Perfectly centered cameo. This is definitely a high-quality, precision-made paperweight.

I found it at a flea market. No box or papers. Just sitting amidst three typical small Muranos and two obvious even smaller China-made paperweights.

I just wanted to add that after following the postings about this paperweight, there was one offered on (where else) ebay! The price was very fair, so ..... It is a beautiful weight and #1501/2000. Do you think there might be Spring, Autumn, and Winter out there as well :lol: ? Actually, I've seen this weight offered before and passed it over. I'm glad that wasn't the case this time. Thank you for sharing!

I gather you bought the Bayel made by Baccarat summer sulphide paperweight on eBay. May we know the price you paid?

As for the other seasons (Spring, Autumn, and Winter), I hope all four seasons definitely would have been made. Maybe it was a tribute to Vivaldi. Of course, I've never seen the other three - spring, autumn, winter - and am intrigued as to what the cameo sulphide would be and wonder what flower might represent the season? I wonder if it's safe to assume each season would be a run of 2000, as Summer is.

The Bayel Summer weight was $4.99 + shipping = $10.49. I agree that there may well be three other seasons out there. I know I'll be looking. Spring could be an iris, Winter a poinsettia, Autumn ... ??. Of course, maybe Summer was not a big seller so the others were never made. Mystery, mystery.